Note 131 — Chapter XXIII · A SECOND YEAR OF REBELLION.
Reading edition
A return was prepared by order of parliament, of the odds and ends composing what was called the sea-kit of English soldiers going out to India, the cost at which they were estimated, and the mode of paying for them:
Articles. Price.
Two canvas frocks at 3s. 3d. (jackets substituted for frocks in the case of sergeants), £0 6 6
One pair canvas trousers, 0 3 4
One neck handkerchief, 0 0 8
One pair of shoes, 0 6 0
Three pounds of marine soap, at 7d., 0 1 9
Two pounds of yellow soap, at 7d., 0 1 2
Nine balls of pipeclay, 0 0 9
One quart tin-pot, with hook, 0 1 0
One scrubbing-brush, 0 0 8
Three tins of blacking, 0 1 0
One clasp-knife, 0 1 0
One bag in lieu of haversack, 0 0 10
Needles and thread, 0 1 0
Three pounds of tobacco, at 2s. 8d., 0 8 0
Two flannel-belts, 0 2 0
Two check-shirts, at 2s. 6d., 0 5 0
—— —— —
£2 0 8
‘The prices,’ as the return tells us, ‘are unavoidably liable to variation, but those in the above list will serve as a general standard for guidance. These extra necessaries are paid for by the men to whom they are issued, out of pay advanced for the purpose. Tobacco is issued to such men only as are in the habit of using it; and if any man be provided already with any of the above articles, and such are in a serviceable condition, a duplicate supply is not given.’
It will at once be understood that the ordinary equipment of the soldier is not here mentioned; only the extras for the sea-voyage being included. The ‘nine balls of pipeclay’ constitute perhaps the worst item in the list.